Finding Control

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Finding Control
15
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 11:04am

So yesterday I asked about the one place where you won't cut back. Today I'm wondering what is *one thing* you can do today that will help you stay on track to reduce your debt.

Sometimes that one thing is an action: call a creditor, pay a bill, etc. Sometimes that one thing is an inaction: don't debt, don't shop, etc.

While our situations can sometimes seem overwhelming, there is always *one thing* we can do to make the situation a teeny tiny bit better one day at a time. It won't necessarily solve all our problems, but it's a small step in the right direction.

What is your one thing today? Did you or will you do it?

All my best,
Danni
cl-phocid, Debt Support Group



All my best,
Danni

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 11:23am

Good one and actually I do write down a goal every week to try to tackle, last week it was looking into Credit Unions, two weeks ago (before vacation) it was getting the BofA interest rate down.


This week:




iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 1:28pm

Good post!


I find that when I lose control of finances, everything else spirals too.


This week was INCREDIBLY productive. I cleaned out my paperwork and filed everything necessary for my taxes. I redid my budget. I balance transferred my car payment onto my CC to take advantage of a lower interest rate. I looked into cancelling ADT (didn't work). I finally feel like I am in control again.


Today I went to the farmers market at lunch to stock up on


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2006
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 2:07pm
This week my goals are to 1) submit an expense request to my employer, which I somehow often neglect to do, 2) do some painting and gardening on my rental, and 3) rent that thing out! Tomorrow new carpeting goes in and then I'll arrange furniture and start showing. I have only two potential renters--I'm at the top of the $$ range so everything counts.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 2:44pm

Very good post!

I made a decision today to not buy any more "want" things from my Avon profits. I am going to buy Christmas gifts with my profits which should free up some flakes down the road. I had also decided to tell more people at the store that I sell avon and ask if they would like me to get them a catalog. I probably won't order more catalogs until I get a few "yes pleases" because they do cost money. But I might try to get a few catalogs and maybe I will get another customer which would be worth it to increase profits.

I am also trying to be proactive with my business. I am looking at getting a small heater for my bathroom here at the store as I had some problems last year with the pipes freezing when it gets too cold for too many days in a row. That will save me stress this winter and a possible plumber bill and the added bonus of my a%# not sticking to the seat LOL!

I must think of another thing to do for next week!


Community Leader
Registered: 07-26-1999
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 3:24pm

I finally broke down and called the Insurance company to find out where my short term disability check was, I talked to them on Aug. 7th and they said the claim was finished and the check cut and mailed the 6th. Come to find out, they mailed the check to my employer to be forwarded on to me. I emailed the HR department, they have not received it yet, at least no one's admitting to receiving it yet. Funny how a letter was mailed from the insurance company to me on August 4th and made it to my house on August 7th, but the check they mailed on August 6th to my employer has yet to arrive. Heck, by the time they find it I will be back to work next week. I guess its a good thing I didn't NEED the money, but it sure would be nice. Maybe I should call back the insurance company and at least find out how much the check was for so I can at least plan a bit.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 4:21pm
That's horrible.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 4:28pm

I did one thing today that will inevitably keep us from adding debt right now, because it's deferring debt to later: I applied for a PLUS loan for DD to attend college this year. We'll pay the interest (I don't know what that will amount to yet!) but the principal won't need to be paid for another 4 years. This gives us more cash flow to help with the other bills. We are working on a "6-year plan" to get out of debt and even downsize to a smaller house/lower payments within the next 6 years, which is also when both kids will be out of college.

It's not much, but I'll take it!

Dee



iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2008
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 4:53pm

I balanced my checkbook at lunch today and it did actually balance for once. Tomorrow is payday, so I set up the bills to be paid online by the bank.

This weekend I will order another free credit report for myself. I also plan to help my daughter get a handle on her student loan debt. She has over a dozen loans of varying amounts and interest rates and her grace period is ending in November.

Mary Jo









iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-1999
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 5:15pm

Oh, there are so many things we *should* be doing, one (or two) at a time will get us there LOL.

1. Call the mortgage company for their "hardship package" -- our mortgage is heading into ARM mode come January, and we don't have the credit to refinance into a fixed interest loan. So, we're hoping that we can qualify for a loan modification to get us out of the ARM trap. We need to fill out the paperwork (the "package"), and then it can take a few months for everything to go through, so we really need to get on that now. It will definitely remove the spectre of uncertainty when it comes to our future mortgage payments.

2. Sell old gold. I went through the jewelry box and pulled out a lot of old stuff I will never wear. We're probably going to go tonight.










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Community Leader
Registered: 07-26-1999
In reply to: cl_phocid
Wed, 08-19-2009 - 7:40pm

It seems par for the course so far. We only have one benefits coordinator even though its a huge agency, so I dont' know if she just is overworked or what. She's been flighty the entire process. I had my doctor fax over all the paperwork the day I went on bedrest with and then 3 weeks after I had Madison, one week after I had emailed her asking what else she needed to Madison on the insurance she emailed me to tell me she needed the original paperwork signed by the doctor before she could finish things to send it to the insurance company. I sent her the paperwork that day and then 2 weeks later once I had Madison's SSN for the medical ins. she said she had the paperwork and would begin processing the short term disability stuff for me. A full 6 weeks after I had been on leave already. I have already been off of work 10 weeks now, had Madison 9 weeks ago, so I should have figured it would take this long. But I didn't know the check would go to my employer. For some reason I remember last time I was on maternity leave the check coming directly to me, a whole lot faster, but maybe my memory is wrong, I don't know. It seems like since i pay the premiums on the insurance and everything, it would come to me, not my employer. Oh well.

On a good note, I listed 3 more maternity outfits on ebay today. I have already sold 4 outfits in the last 10 days for just over $60, and that's just the summer stuff. So I am pretty happy so far.

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